Bean snipper



April 27, 1954 c. E. KERR BEAN SNIPPER Filed Jan. l2, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERN ATTORNEY C. E. KERR BEAN SNIPPER April 27, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l2, 1950 INVENTOR CHARLES E... KERN BY ,/fuw t.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1954 c. E. KERR 2,676,534

BEAN SNIPPER Filed Jan. 12, 195o 7 sheets-shewv s IE-1G45 wvl-:mor

CHRLES f. KERK SYM ATTQRNEY C. E. KERR BEAN SNIPPER April 27, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. l2, 1950 wm u.

e? 5oI lNVENTOR C'RLS KER? ATTORNEY April 27, 1954 C, E, KERR 2,676,634

BEAN SNIPPER FiledJan. 12, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FII E y INVENTOR y ATTORNEY April 27, 1954 C, E, KERR 2,676,634

BEAN SNIPPER l Filed Jan. l2, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR CHARLA-s s. Kem? ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Machinery and Chemical Corporation,

San

Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1950, Serial No. 138,153

33 Claims.

The present invention relates to a bean snipper, and more particularly to a flat-sided drum type mechanism for feeding, positioning, and snipping the tips from string beans preparatory to packing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved drum type bean shipper.

Another object is to provide a bean shipper having a rotatable flat sided drum, with tip snipping means provided at the intersections of adjacent drum sides.

Another object is to provide a bean snipper having a flat sided drum, with guide means to cause beans in the drum to slide endwise along a drum side on operation thereof alternately to present opposite tip ends of the beans to tip snipping mechanisms located at the terminal ends of the drum side in the direction of slide.

Another object is to provide a flat sided bean snipping drum with a helical guiding conveyor adapted to guide the beans endwise along successive adjacent sides of the drum upon rotation thereof and to cause the beans to progress through the drum to a point of discharge.

Another object is to co-ordinate the action of means for producing a positively controlled guided sliding action on a bean which causes the tip end of the bean to project into an opening provided therefor, with the action of tip severing means, whereby the tip severing means is moved to sever the projecting bean tip, and thereafter automatically to reverse the direction of bean movement end for end and repeat the severing operation on its other tip.

Another object is to provide a bean snipper having a fiat-sided rotary drum with guiding chutes formed along the inner walls of the drum, the angles of intersection between adjacent flat sides of the drum having perforated plates, the tip ends of beans in the drum being guided to extend into the perforations in the plates for snipping, and the perforated plates being disposed at an angle to tip the beans over endwise upon rotation of the drum and cause them to slide down a next successive guiding chute in end for end reversed condition.

Another object is to provide a relatively small, high speed mechanism for feeding and snipping the tip ends from beans wherein the beans are guided endwise toward a snipping mechanism, are snipped, and then are reversed end-for-end and guided endwise toward another snipping mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a double drum bean snipper embodying the present invention, a feed elevator and a portion of a take-off conveyor being shown.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the discharge end of the mechanism shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

` Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. l, portions thereof being broken away.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View looking in the direction of the arrows 1 1 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 8 8' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

i Fig. 10 is a detail elevation showing the inner side of a shear plate adapted to be mounted inv rows along each side of the snipping drum.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line I I-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the ltwo end portions of the rotary drum, the intermediate central portion being broken away, and the heads, shear plates and snipping blade assemblies being removed, the hidden conveyorr ights being shown in dotted lines on the right hand half of the ligure.

Figs. 13, 13A, 14, 14A, l5 and 15A show, respectively, a diagrammatic cross section of the rectangular snipping drum and an enlarged fragment thereof in different successive rotative positions of the drum, the snipping knives being omitted.

Fig. 16 (Sheet 5) is a fragmentary section, similar to the lower portion of Fig. 9, of a modied arrangement of snipping drum.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show in its entirety a two-drum bean snipper A embodying the present invention. The machine comprises a base frame B with angle iron longitudinal members 2| and 22, and transverse end members 23 and '24. Supporting legs 21 and 28 are provided on the opposite ends of the frame, the legs 2l on the discharge end of the machine being shorter than those on the intake end so as to tilt the entire structure toward the discharge end. A pair of snipuct into the drums is or a usual type and com prises a slatted elevator belt 2t (Figs. l andv 3) trained around head and tail rollers 30 and 3i, which are journaled on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of a generally upright elevator frame 32. from an electric motor 33, through an adjustable speed reducer 34 of a usual type, by a drive chain Si and V-belt 38, which passes around a pulley 33 mounted on a usual jack shaft 4t and a pulley S on` the shaft of the headl roller 30'.

rihe elevator is enclosed in a usual' sheet metal casing Lil, and a charging hopper 42 is provided on the lower end oi' the casing wherein the string beans to be processed byV the machine are dumped. The elevator discharges the beans elevated from the hopper 42 over the head roller 3B and thence intol an intake casing 43 of oblong cross section,

An inverted V-shaped divider plate144 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted in the casing 43. The downwardly sloping side portions of the divider plate irl divide the stream of beans discharged thereon by the elevator substantially equally between two intake elbows 4'1 and 48 which are mounted on brackets 49 (Figs. l, 3 and 6) bolted onto the transverse end frame member 24. Each or the intake elbows is provided with three radially extending ears 45 (Figs. 4 and 6) drilled to receive cap screws lea by which the elbows are mounted on the brackets 49.

The two shipping drums C and D and their associated mount-ing and operating arrangements are substantially similar to each other, and one only thereof will be described in detail. Each drum comprises a hollow body portion 50, of generally polygonal" cross sectional shape, with annular heads 5lv and 52A secured over the ends' thereof.

The walls of the body portion of the drum are of composite structure (Figs. 6, 9 and 12)-, Each wall comprises' a plurality of transverse diagonal ribs 53, which are mitered together at their ends and secured together by bolts 54 (Fig. 9) to form a pair of relatively interposed conveyor nights along the inner walls of the drum in the nature of a double-thread, rectangular, helical screw. Adjacent ribs of the two flights, which are separately designated as 53a and 53h (Figs. 6, 9 and l2) are spaced apart laterally by a distance less than the length of the beans which itis desired to process in the apparatus. In other words the pitch of the double screw flight is less than the average length of the beans` to be processed. Therefore, a promiscuous mass of beans falling into the interior or the revolving drum through the intake or charging elbow 41wil1- tend to arrange themselves lengthwise of the grooves be. tween adjacent ribs or threads of the two ights.

A side cover plate 55, which may be of cast iron or steel with smooth inner surface',u is Tse'- cured, by screws 51, lengthwise over onellia'lf Aci" each of the four sidesv of the double flights 53a and 53h (Fig. 12). theA nights rigidly in position andv unite-the drum The head roller 30, Fig. 1, is driven These side cover plates hold body into a strong hollow iiat sided structure of rectangular cross sectional shape. A securing flange 58 is formed integrally along the outer marginal edge of each of the side cover plates 55, and has threaded openings therein to receive screws 59 (Figs. 6 and 9) for mounting a plurality of slotted shear plates 6l) (Figs. 6,` 9 and l0) which cover the other halfof each side of the rectangular body portion'of the drum from that covered by the side cover plates 55. The shear plat-es 60 also are secured to the ilight ribs 53a; and'53b by screws 59 and Bi (Figs. 6 and 9). The screws 5l are inserted through complementary countersunk notches l@ and @ib (Figs. l0 and 1'1) provided in opposite sides of the shear plates.'

The shear plates t@ preferably are in the form of parallelograms with their longer edges disposed at an acuate angleV with respect to a transverse plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the drum. This angle corresponds substantially to the angle at which the ribs 53 are disposed rclatively to such transverse plane. A plurality of slotted holes S2 (Figs. 6, l0 and 1l) are provided in each of the shear plates parallel to each other and to the side edges of the shear plates. These holes are oi a size to protrude the tip end of a bean therethrough, while retaining the bean within the drum. Each shear plate is adapted to span the space between adjacent ribs53, and to fit closely together in edgewise abutment with each other. End iiller plates 63 (Fig. 6) are provided endwise beyond each row of the shear plates to provide a tight closure between the lastJ shear plate in each row thereof and the heads oi the drum.

lThe annular drum heads 5i and 52 are bolted onto the ends of the drum body portion 5e by bolts til which pass through holes in the heads Vof the drumv and are screwed into threaded holes in brackets 61 and 68, one of each of which is mounted at each end of each side of the drum body. The brackets 3S have an additional function tol that of securing the end plates to the drum body, namely` that of providing a slidable support for a snipping'or shear blade mounting rod as will be described later herein.

The-head 5l on the charging or intake end of the drum comprises a flat annular flange t5 with a concentric tubular collar 59 extending endwise therefrom, the collar having a bearing track 1i] machined around its outer end. This machined outer end portion of the tubular collar is inserted in an externally channeled mounting ring H secured by bolts 'l2 (Figs. 4 and 6) to the charging elbow mounting bracket 49. A pair of drum supporting rollers lil'- and l5 (Figs. and 5) are journaled on pins Il (Fig. 5) which are pillcwed in box brackets T8 extending radially outwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of the lower portion of the mounting ring ll, and are secured inposition therein by bearing caps 19. The machined peripheraltrack face 'i0 of the endwise extending tubular collar E3 is supported on these 'rollers for free rotating movement within the mounting ring 'Il and free of rrictional contact therewith.

The discharge head 52 of the drum may be of cast metal, and comprises a flat annular flange B0 (Figs. l', 2, and 3') having! a centrali discharge vopening 86 therein. An endwise extending four armed spider 8|, with a central hub portion S2,

formed integrally therewith, spans the central discharge opening inthe annular an'ge portion A` stub shaft'. 83; is mounted axially in the 'intervals along each rod 93.

the worm gear 85 and the drum itself, is driven through a V belt 89'by an electric motor 90 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) Amounted on a frame extension 9| secured to the transverse end frame member 23. A takeoi conveyor 92 which may be of an ordinary :belt type and power driven in a usual manner is mounted beneath the discharge end of the drum to receive the beans discharged thereby and transport them to a desired destination.

The two rollers 14 and 15 and the stub shaft 83 thus support the drum for rotation'about its longitudinal axis. The required direction of drum rotation is determined by the location of the shear plates 60 on the sides of the drum and is indicated as being in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 9 and 13 to 15A, inclusive, so that the beans will slide endwise along the trough-like grooves or channels between adjacent ribs forming the flights 53a and 53h toward the perforations in the shear plates 60 upon each quarter turn of the drum. The hand of the threads or flights 53aA and 53h is such as to advance the beans from the charging toward the discharge end of the rotating drum.

A snipping blade assembly E is mounted centrally lengthwise over each row of shear plates 00 on the drum, and comprises a blade mounting rod 93 (Fig. 1) of rectangular cross sectional shape, a plurality of spring pressed blade assem-v blies 94 affixed to the rod, and cam follower rollers 91 and 98 rotatably mounted one on each end of the rod 93.

A pair of blade support rod actuating cams 99 and |00, to be described in detail later herein, are mounted one beyond each end of the drum to reciprocate each blade assembly E lengthwise of its row of shear plates at predetermined stages in its rotative cycle to snip off the tips of beans protruding through the slots in the shear plates. Each blade supportA rod 93 extends endwise through openings in both of the drum head annular iiange portions 65 and 80, and is mounted for lengthwise slidable movement in notches |0| (Figs. 8 and 9) in the upper ends of the combined Arod support and drum head securing brackets 68 which are bolted to the end filler plates 63 I (Fig. 6).

The blade mountingV rods are retained in the A notched central rod supeach blade support rod 93 intermediately of its ends. y

The snipping or shear blade assemblies 94 (Figs. 6 and 9) are mounted at equally spaced Each blade assembly comprises a fitting |01 with a notch in its 'under side (Fig. 9)v adapted closely to saddle the rod 9,3. Each fitting |01 issecured to the rodby Each blade assembly fitting |01 has two similar pairs of pin mounting Varms |09 and ||0 extending laterally from opposite sides thereof. A blade supporting-pin is mounted for axial slidable movement in aligned holes provided in the outer ends of each pair |09 and ||0 of these arms, each blade support pin having a reduced upper portion which is surrounded by a coil spring H2. This spring is held in compression between theoutermost arm ||0 and the oset shoulder between the inner portion of the pin and its reduced outer end portion, so as to exert an endwise thrust on the pin toward the shear plates 60 over which the rod 93 is centrally mounted. A shear blade |l3, of thin tool steel, has a pair of drilled bosses ||4 on its outer side adapted to register with the blade supporting pins Each blade support pin has an extension ||5 of reduced diameter on its inner end adapted to enter the holes drilled in the blade bosses ||4 to hold the blades in position and to exert a resilient thrust on the blades toward the shear plates.

The edges of the shear blades are beveled toward the shear plates and are sharpened, while the walls of the slotted openings in the shear plates (Fig. 11) are beveled on their inner sides', so that when the blades ||4 are reciprocated .back andforth across the shear plates by the operation of the rods 93, a shearing action will be achieved which will snip off any abean tips which may protrude through the perforations in the shear plates beyond the outer surface thereof. The blade assemblies 94 preferably are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the shear plates as shown in Fig. 6, and in such case the reciprocal stroke of each rod 93 is of a length to cause each shear blade to traverse one shear plate.

The blade support rod actuating cam 99 on the discharge end of the machine (Figs. 7 and 8) comprises a triangular cam plate ||1 curved to conform with the circular path of the cam follower rollers 91 upon rotation of the drum. This triangular cam is secured by bolts ||8, and an intermediate supporting pad IIS, to a pivotally mounted cam support bar |20. The cam sup-port bar |20 is pivoted on a bolt |2| mounted on the central longitudinal member 2| (Fig. 8) of the main frame. The free end of this pivoted cam support bar |20 is mounted for lateral slidable movement in a notch |22 in a guide plate |23 which is welded to extend upwardly from the upper side of the outer longitudinal frame member 22. The notch |22 permits limited pivotal movement of the cam mounting bar |20, which is biased inwardly into the notch by a coil tension spring |24. The curved triangular plate ||1 is positioned to engage the cam follower roller 91 of each snipping assembly7 E at a stage in the rotative movement of the drum when the tips of the beans are protruding to their maximum degree through the perforations in the shear plates '60 associated with that particular shipping assembly.

The spring biased pivotal mounting of the cam plate mounting bar' |20 is provided as a safety measure. In the event that the action of one or more of the shear blades should be blocked, however, as might' be the case if a piece of metal should protrude through a'shear plate opening 'and offer substantial resistance to the reciprocal movement of the blade supporting rod 93, the pivoted bar and its supported cam plate `i|1 would'be swung'outward against the tension of the spring L24 by theeotiopef eoeiplstefon the cam follower roller.

After the @am plate had passed `beyond .the

the spring |24 would retiii see-t in the poieh i212, with laudible "-feiieli* which would be e s ieiiei io the operator toffe.- move the obstruction if desired, .ap-ordis. y type of automatic .eutofiswiteli and vrelay. not shown. een be associated .with themoyeoieritof the pivoted .par 1.2.-0 .ina well kpowndiioiiderto yshut down themeehiiie .in the .event .lihebeil i219 should be displaced substantiellyiromits `peel? in the notch.

The blade support rod returnoam IQQUon-the otherend of the machine eomprises a Curved. eed-.1 plate |25 which is generally similar, pui opposite. to the rod actuating cam plate H1. The retupn cam .plate E25 is fixedly .mounted .011 arbldekeli v|21 bolted to the transverse end-member on the opposite end of themain. framed. This. return camV engages the ca m follower rollers Qn `the opposite ends of the blade mounting rods .9. 3 from the actuating cam 99 to return the rods, to their normal positions at a stage inthe rotative cyle of the vdrum when no beans orforeign material are positioned to protrudefrom the shear plate-perforations 62. 'Thereiore, vit-has been found ,unnecessary to mount this return cam resiliently.

Ir desired, however, aresilient am mounting arf rangement similar ytothat disclosed for the a c tuating cam S9 may be employed also for the rod return cam [00.

Inthe modied form ofthe inventionshown in Fig.V 16 (Sheet 5) the drum C is generally similar tothe .drums C and D of the mechanism illusf trated in the remaining iiguresof the drawings, .With theexception `,thatthe rows of shear plates 66a and 60h of the modied drum shown in Fig. 16 are mounted onopposite instead of adjacent sides of the drum.

Withthis modified 4arrangement the drum instead 'of being driven to rotate v.continuously in .one direction as in the form of the invention shown -in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is driven .So as toosoillate .back and forth, thereby causing :the beans in the troughs or channels therein Vto vSlide first L0..- ward the shearplates.mwhereupon the associated lshipping blademechanism is aotuatedto snip off kthe tips of beans protruding ,through the perforations in the shear `plates 60 a, and then Vvis swung back in lthe oppositedireotion to cause the .beans to slide endwise toward .the-shear plates (ith, whereupon the protruding tipson Athepther ends of the beans will be snipped .ofi by actuation .of the blade actuatingmechanism associated, with v.the vlatter .shear plates. After a requirednurnber of oscillations in this manner the drum can be rotated to advance the beansby suitablewdrive mechanism vof avvell knovvntype. d If desired, 'the Vtop of ,thedrum may be left uncoveredand after a suitable number of oscillations ,toinsureadeouatefsnippina thesnipped beans een berliimped outby inverting `the thus y open topped drum.

Operation The operation of the embodiment .of the `irl..- Vention illustrated irl-Figs. 1 to 15 4is as iollows:

A supply of beans is-dumped into the -feedhopper 42 of the charging mechanism F (-Fig. l). From this supply the slatted elevator. belt .29 carries the beans ata substantially uniformrate up the elevator and over the top thereof, discharging .them into the divided intake casing .43 `ofthe machinefrom which substantially equal amounts oi-,iiieloeeos ose fed threesome feed elbows 4i and 48 intothe s'nipping'drums Cy and D. IThe rate of travel 4of Vthe Velevatords controlled by means ofthe 'variable sped reducer 34, 'a preferred maximum Yrelative speedl between the elevator epd thesniopioe .ioeooooislro beine Such diei 'the beans v yvillnoi', quite lill the channels'betw'een adjacent -rihs 5 3 of the flights 53o and 53h' of the dopbiesorev epoyeyoi` M r fe 1'ngvto the diagrammatic.illustration of Eigs 1 y nd 13A, it will benoted that the'bans, heisses. ieied previously bereid', looee'ihii'toe distende, sepa. iioe-odioeeiii ilosf of the eooveyof meins.. tendio. transe.ihemoelvesleosihwise in the r.spares between, adieeeo ribs? Th'ei'ef'ore et substantially .each one-.quarter turn of thedrum, as the angle of tilt of the troughs or channels'bethe .ribs passes. beyond-the limiiirieenele of iriotiop between the beeps epd the fehoiel yvalls, `the beans slide endvvise alongr the channels, .until they are, ELNested by eiieeeemeni' with the sheer plates. dappere the tips of the end wise positioned heaps `tend to protrude through the peiioraiiops .in the sheer plaies l A lt tl 1is stage in the rotative cycle, when the pearls ereprotiudiiis through the Sheer plete perforations to Ia maximum degree, Ythe actuating @am 9 9 (Figs. '7 and 8) engages the cam follower roller. 011 the blade eeliuatine rod es' socia-ted with the royv of shear plates through which the `bean tips are protruding, and moves the snipping blades of `that assembly across their associated vshear plates, seyering the protruding tips.-

Some beans are curved, excessively, as villustrated at 1 2 8 in Figs. 13 to 15A, lso that their tips .do not initially protrude througha slotted opening in the shear plates. However, .it has been noted .that such beans usually are .snipped on both ends when discharged .from the machine. This result has probably been due to `a'tendency `for these euri/.ed beeps frequently io position themselves as shown in Figs. 15 and 15A, Where one vo r b 9 t h .of their-,tips protrude through the .As thedpum .Continues to rotate. from the, PeeitionoffFig ;1 3, the ends of the vbeans from which the tips have y been snipped tend .to be retained in the b eyeled 4slotted ,openings Ain the shear .plates/ and the beans v are carried upward on'the Shearplates ,until they are tilted beyond the `verticalto the `position of Fig. 14, ,whereupon the vbeansWil-ltumble over endwise and then, as further rotation of the drum sufcientlytilts the troughs. or channels into which they fall, will slide .endwise along the .channel with their un- .snipped-.tipsdireoted .toward the ,next row of shear plates.

When Y,these ,bea-ns again are arrested in their .endwise sliding movement `by the next row of :shear plates, as llustratedin Fig. 15, 'these unsnipped tips will protrude through the shear plate openings-inthe. manner `previously de- .scribed for Fig. 13 andwillbe sriiiopedoik by the subsequent-timely Vc :lzaeratiofn of the blades yH3 through the operation of the actuating cam 99 .andeamffollower roller '97 r-.Each'fblade assembly will of coursehbe returned tof-its normal or, unac tuated position bythe return cam I prior to `the time v the shipping .blade rod rolleragain is engagedby the actuat- 9 of the foregoing together with the description of the modified form in the body of the present specification.

The positive directing action of the transversely disposed troughs or channels in the present invention plus the positive end-for-end reversing action on the beams, results in the discharge of a very high percentage of beans with both ends snipped, and also permits a high rate of production. Both of these features are most important in meeting the present day demands of the canning industry for a high quality pack combined with a high rate of output.

The present description ofv the invention is directed to a mechanism handling beans. However it will be obvious to those familiar with the art that the invention can also be used for snipping other elongated pointed'products requiring such processing and the term bean as used throughout is intended to include such other products. ItLwill also be obvious that various changes and 'modifications may be made in the details of the mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

l. A bean shipper comprising a rotary drum having a bean supporting fia-t side of a width greater than the length of the beans for the beans to slide thereover with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the axis of drum rotation, a bean intercepting shear plate disposed adjacent a lateral edge of said fiat side in angular relation thereto and in the path of travel of the beans, said shear plate having a slot therein adapted to protrude therethrough the tip of a bean intercepted thereby while retaining the bean, means for guiding the beans along said nat side during their endvvise sliding movement Vof drum rotation when the tips of the intercepted beans protrude through the shear plate slot to snip off said protruding bean tips.

2. A bean snipper comprising a pivotally mounted receptacle, a bean supporting flat side of a width slightly greater than the length of the beans on said receptacle over which side the beans slide with their lengths. in substantiallyv transverse relation to the pivotal axis of the receptacle, a bean interoeptingshear plate on said receptacle disposed adjacent said iiat side in substantially perpendicular relation thereto andv in the path if'ftrav'el of the beans, said. shear plate having an opening therein adapted'to protrude the tip of a bean therethrough while retaining the bean, means for guiding the beans along said fiat side during their endwise sliding movement thereon towards said shear plate for interception thereby and the protrusion of the tips of inter- `oepted beans through the opening thereof upon .a predetermined pivotal movement of said receptacle -shear meansr operatively mounted upon said receptacle in shearing relation to saidshear plate, and means disposed in the operational path or? saidshear means and adapted -to co-act therewith Y for imparting shearing movement lithereto relatively to saidshear plate during the interception of said beans by said shear plate to snip off protruding bean tips.

3. A bean shipper comprising a tiltable receptacle, a bean supporting flat side of a width greater than the length of the beans on said receptacle over which side the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the tilting axis of the receptacle, a bean intercepting shear plate on said receptacle disposed adjacent said at side in substantially perpendicular relation thereto and in the path of travel of the beans, said shear plate having a slot therein adapted to protrude the tip of an intercepted bean therethrough while retaining the bean, means for tilting the receptacle to incline the nat side of same to cause the beans on said flat side to slide endwise towards said shear plate for interception thereby, means for guiding the beans along said flat side during their endwise sliding movement thereon towards the shear plate upon a predetermined tilting movement of `the receptacle, shear means operatively mounted upon said receptacle in shearing relation to said shear plate and for transverse shearing movement relatively thereto, and means disposed in the operational path of said shear means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting shearing movement thereto during tilting movement of said receptacle to snip olf protruding bean tips.

4. A bean shipper comprising a support, a drum mounted upon said support to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum having a substantially ilat bean supporting side wall of a width greater than the length of the beans over which side the beans slide with their lengths in approximately transverse relation to the axis of drum rotation, a plurality of bean guiding ribs mounted toextend inwardly from said flat side wall, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance less than" the length of the beans to be guided to thus form with said iiat side wall a `chute along which the beans are adapted to slide endwise, an apertured shear plate disposed transversely across said chute between adjacent ribs in substantially perpendicular relation toits bottom wall whereby beans sliding endwise along said chute are intercepted and their leading tips are caused to protrude through the apertures of said shear plate' while retaining the beans, means for rotating said drum to tilt the chute and thereby cause the beansk guided lengthwise therein between adjacent ribs to slide endwise by gravity towards said apertured shear plate to protrude upon interception thereby their tips through the apertures thereof, shear means operatively mounted upon said drum in shearing Vcontact with said apertured shear plate, and

means disposed in the arcuatepath of operational travel of said shear means and adapted to co act therewith for imparting shearing movement thereto at a predetermined' rotative position of said drum to snip the protruding tips from said to permit the tips of beans intercepted thereby to protrude through said apertures while retainling the beans, means for pivotally moving said 4aora-ess l i drum about its axis to tilt the chutes and thereby cause the beans guided between said ribs to slide endwise along said chutes toward and against said bean intercepting plate to protrude their tips through the aperturesY thereof, shear means operatively mounted upon said drum to shearingly cooperate with the marginal edges of said apertures, and means disposed in the operational path oi travel of lsaid shear means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting shearing movement thereto at a predetermined pivotal position of said drum to snip the tips of the intercepted beans protruding through the apertures of said shear plate.

'6.' A bean 'shipper Icomprising a frame, a plurality of bean guiding chutes arranged 'in side by side relation and mounted upon said frame to tilt endwise about a substantially horizontal axis, a perforated bean intercepting 4shear' plate disposed transversely oi said chutes in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom walls thereof 'to thereby effect interception of the guided `beans in said chutes, said shear plate having perforations of a size to permit the tips of the beans intercepted thereby to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, means for tilting the chutes to cause the beans guided therein to slide endwise towards and against said bean intercepting shear plate to protrude their tips through the perforations thereof, shear means operatively supported from the bean guiding chutes for shearing cooperation with said 4shear plate, and means disposed in the operational path of travel of said shear means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting shearing movement thereto at a predetermined tilted position of the chutes to snip the tips of intercepted beans protruding from the perforations of the shear plate.

7. A bean snipper comprising a rotatable drum having a bean supporting nat side whereover the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the axis of drum rotation, members forming a plurality of narrow bean guiding channels upon the inner face oi' said flat side, a beam intercepting shear plate disposed transversely across the ends of said channels in substantially perpendicular relation to the plane of said flat side for abutment Yby beans sliding endw'ise along said channels to thereby arrest sliding movement of same, said shear plate having openings therein adapted vto allow the tips of the arrested beans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, drive means for rotating said drum to tilt said flat side and its correlated bean guiding channels between substantially horizontal and upright positions to thus cause the beans to slide along said channels until arrested by the shear plate and to protrude their tips through the shear plate openings, a shear blade operatively mounted upon said rotatable drum exteriorly oi' said shear plate and shearingly movable across the openings 'thereof to sever protruding bean tips, and stationarily mounted blade actuating means disposed in the operational path oi travel of the shear blade for co-action therewith to impart shearing movement thereto at a predetermined stage in the rotative movement of said drum when the tips of the intercepted beans protrude through the shearplate openings.

8. A bean shipper comprising a tiltable bean container having a bean supporting flat side whereover the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the tiltingV axis of the beancontainer, members forming a l2 plurality `of narrow bean guiding channels upon the inner face `of said flat side, a Abean intercepting shear plate disposed to extend transversely across the ends of said channels in substantially perpendicular relation to the plane of 'said iiat side for abutment by means sliding endwise along said channels to thus arrest sliding movement of same, said shear plate having openings therein to allow the tips of the arrested beans to protrude therethrough While retaining the beans, *means for operating said 'bean container 'to effect `tilting of said bean guiding channels lengthwise and thus cause the beans therein to v'slideby gravity endwise therealong and protrude their tips through the shear plate openings, a shear blade operatively mounted upon said bean lcontainer exteriorly of saidshearplate and shearinglymovable across the openings of said plate to sever protruding bean tips, :and stationarily "mounted :blade actuating means disposed in the yoperational path of ltravel of said shear blade for coaction therewith lto impart shearing movement 'thereto at a predetermined stage in the tilting movement of the bean container when the tips of the arrested beans protrude through the shear plate openings.

9. A bean snipper comprising a rotatable bean container of nat sided conguration, each side of 'said container having aflat imperforate bean supporting plate extending over substantially half the width thereof and w-hereon the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the axis of container rotation, a complemental fiat bean intercepting shear plate on each side ci said container in the plane of and in abutment with the leading edge of its correlated imperforate plate lin the direction of container rotation and being of a width to complete said side, said shear plate having openings therein adapted to protrude therethrough vthe tips of beans intercepted thereby while retaining the beans, helical bean guiding ribs having successive straight portions thereof secured in oblique relation to the inner faces of said imperforate plates to 'form 'therewith 'a substantially continuous helical bean guiding channel within said container `of lesser width than the length of the beans to be guided therein, means for rotating said container lto vary the tilt of reach successive portion of said channel to cause the beans to slide endlwise therealong towards the succeeding shear Adrum rotation thereafter tumbling the beans endwise for end to end reversal in said channel and causing said reversed beans to slide therealong towards the suceeding shear plate to be intercepted thereby and protrude the tips on their jo'ther ends through the openings in said shear plate for sequential severance as aforesaid.

l0. A bean sniper comprising a support, fiatsided 'and open-ended drum of polygonal cross section mounted upon lsaid support to rotate about 'ian inclined axis, each dat side of said -rotating 13 drum having, in the direction of drum rotation, a trailing longitudinally disposed imperforate bean supporting portion Wherecver the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the axis of drum rotation, said iiat side also having a similarly disposed bean shearing portion having a plurality of openings therein of a size to allow the tips of beans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, charging means mounted to introduce beans into one open end of said drum, a helix of polygonal crosssection disposed within said drum to form with the side walls thereof a substantially continuous chute for conveying the beans fromthe charging `end of the drum to and through the other end thereof, said chute being of a width less than the ylengths of the beans to be conveyed therein so that said beans are caused to slide endwise along said chute when the drum is rotated, drive means to rotate said drum in a direction to cause the beans therein to slide endwise along .successive sections of said chute towards and -against the' bean shearing portions on the walls of said drum to protrude their leading tips through the openings thereof, shear means operatively mountedseverance as aforesaid.

11. A bean snipper comprising a support frame, a bean container pivotally mounted upon said support frame and having a longitudinally disposed imperforate bean supporting at side of a Width greater than the length of the beans and wherever the beans slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the pivotal axis of said container, means for pivotally moving said container about asubstantially horizontal axis in recurring cycles to tilt said bean supporting ilat side between substantially horizontal and upright positions, a bean intercepting portion on said container disposed adjacent an edge of said flat side in substantially perpendicular relation thereto and in the path of travel of the beans sliding thereover, said portion having a plurality oi shear openings therein ofa size to allow the tips of the intercepted beans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, means for guiding the endwise sliding movement of the beans upon said flat side towards said bean intercepting portion during the recurring tilting cycles of said dat side, shear means operatively mounted upon said container in shearing contact with and exteriorly of said bean interceiciting portion .for shearing movement across the openings thereof to sever the tips of beans protruding therethrough, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational arcuate path of. travel of said shear means and adapted to Vco-act therewith for imparting shearing movement thereto at predetermined stages in the pivotal cycle Aof movement of said container whenthe tips of the intercepted beans protrude through the openings of the bean intercepting portion. I'

12. A bean snipper comprising a drum rotatable about an inclined vaxis, and having .a plurality of bean-supporting nat sides of a Width greater than the beans-to be' snippedwhereover the beans vare adapted tosuccessively slide feeding beans at a controlled rate into the upper' end of said drum, guide means mounted interiorly of said ilat sides and extending in closely adjacent relation substantially transversely of each of said flat sides to cause the beans to slide endwise down successive sides of the drum on rotation thereof, shipping means operatively carried by each iiat side of said drum and mounted thereon in adjacent and parallel relation to the intersections of adjacent flat sides, said snipping means being disposed in the path of travel of the sliding beans and being adapted to arrest the sliding movement or same and to receive and sever the tips of the beans arrested thereby, stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of travel of said shipping means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at predetermined points in the rotative cycle of said drum, said snipping means being adapted to retain the beans against direct sliding movement from one ilat drum side to the next whereby the beans topple over and are reversed, end for end, after each successive shipping operation to cause the beans to slide in endwise reversed relation upon the succeeding nat side slightly prior to and continuing during the time each successive intersection between adjacent sides is passing its bottom dead center of drum rotation.

'13. A bean snipper comprising a rotatable drum having a sequence of at sides of a width greater thanv the length of the beans and whereover the beans are adapted to successively slide with their lengths in substantially transverse relation to the axis of drum rotation, guide means interiorly of said drum for imposing positive and controlled guiding action upon beans sliding endwise along the interior surfaces of successive at sides of the drum upon rotation thereof, tip shipping means operatively carried by each flat side of said drum in advance thereof in the direction of drum rotation and in angular relation to the preceding flat side with which it cooperates to arrest movement of the beans sliding thereover, said shipping means having an opening adapted to receive the tip portion only of a bean directed endwise thereinto, stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of said tip shipping means and adapted to coact therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at a predetermined point in the rotative cycle of said drum, said opening and said guide means being adapted to retain the bean in arrested position until said bean is carried beyond.

"apointl in the rotation of said drum whereat it `topples over endwise in the guiding means onto tion,vv a plurality of blade support brackets secured to said rod at spaced intervals, a bean `tip shearing blade mounted upon reach'of said means cooperating with Asaid last mentioned means for biasing the blade toward said perforate portion, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational path of travel of said blade support rod and adapted to co-act therewith for reciprocating the same in recurrent strokes in timed relationto the rotation of said drum to thereby snip oif protruding bean tips.

l5. In a bean snipper, the combination. comprising: a rotatable drum, a shear plate seated within the side walls of said d-rum in oblique rela-tion to a plane perpendicular to the axis of drum rotation, said shear plate having therein a plurality of uniformly spaced rows of outwardly convergentl elongated slots disposed in substantially parallel relation to the sides there- I of and being of a width to allow the tips or the lbeans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, a longitudinally disposed shear blade support rod mounted upon said drumr for `transverse recprocative movement over the slots of said shear plate, a blade support bracket lsecured to said rod in the oblique plane of said shear plate, a bean tip shearing blade mounted upon said bracket for shearing contact with said shear plate, means for retaining the blade against lateral displacement from said bracket, spring means cooperating with said last mentioned means for biasing the blade toward said shear plate, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational path of said reciprocative blade support rod and adapted to co-act therewith for reciprocating the saine in recurrent strokes in timed relation to the rotation of the drum whereby the Vbean tips protruding froml the shear plate slots are snipped off.

16. In a bean shipper, .the combination comprising: a rotatable drum, a longitudinally disposed row of shear plates seated within the side wall of said drum in oblique relation to a plane perpendicular to the axis of drum rotation, each of said shear plates having therein a plurality .of uniiormly spaced rows of outwardly convergent elongated slots disposed in substantially parallel relation to the sides thereof and being of a width to allow the tips of the beans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, a longitudinally disposed shear. blade support rod mounted upon said drum in substantially median alignment with said row of shear plates and for reciprocative movement over the slots thereof, a blade support bracket associated with each shear plate and secured to said rod in the oblique plane of its shear plate, a bean tip eshearing blade mounted upon said bracket for shearing contactwith its correlated .shear plate, means for retaining theblade against lateral displacement from said bracket, spring means-cooperating with said last mentioned means for biasing the blade toward said shear plate, and stationarily mounted means `disposed in the operational path of said reciprocative blade support rod and adapted to co-act 'therewith for reciprocating the same in recurrent strokes in timed relation to the rotation of the drum to thereby snip off protruding beans tips.

i7. In a bean shipper, the combination comprising: a drum supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation about its axis on said supporting frame, a shear plate seated within-the side walls of said drum inf oblique-'relation to a 16 plane perpendicular to the axis of drum rotation, said shear plate having herein a plurality of uniformly spaced rows of outwardly convergent elongated slots disposed in substantially parallel relation to the sides thereof and being of a Width to allow the tips of the beans to protrude therethrough while retaining the beans, a shear `blade support rod mounted longitudinally upon said drum for transverse reciprocative movement over the slots of said shear plate, a cam follower roller rotatably mounted upon each end of said support rod, a blade support bracket secured to said rod in the oblique plane of said shear plate, a bean tip shearing blade mounted upon said bracket for shearing contact with said shear plate, means for retaining the blade against lateral displacement from said bracket, spring means cooperating with said last reentioned means for biasing the blade toward said shear plate, a blade support rod actuating cam mounted upon said drum supporting frame and disposed in the operational path. of one f the cam follower rollers of said blade support rod and adapted to oo-act therewith for imparting shearing movement to said shearing blade in timed relation to the rotation of the drum to thereby snip 01T bean tips protruding from the latter, and a second blade support rod actuating cam mounted upon said drum supporting frame Aand disposed in the operational path of the other cam follower roller of said blade support rod and adapted to co-act therewith for returning said rod to its normally retracted position.

18. The combination as substantially defined in claim 17, characterized in thatV said first mentioned blade support rod actuating cam is mounted upon the drum supporting frame closely adjacent to but beyond the vertical axial of the drum in the direction of drum rotation.

19. The combination as sbstantially defined in claim 17, characterized in that said r'irst inentioned blade support rod actuating cam is pivotally mounted and spring biased for permitting backward movement of said rod when the bean tip shearing blade encounters an obstruction during a shearing operation thereof.

20. A bean shipper shear plate having a rhomboidal contour and a plurality of uniformly spaced rows of outwardly convergent elongated slots formed therein.

2l. A shear plate as defined in claim 20, characterized in that the uniformly spaced rows of slots are longitudinally disposed therein.

22. A bean snipper comprising a narrow, bean r guiding channel, a bean intercepting shear plate able across the openings thereof to sever protruding bean tips, and stationarily mounted blade actuating means disposed in the operational path of travel with said shear blade for co-action therewith to impart shearing movement thereto at -a ,predetermined stage in the tilting-of said `channel when the vtips of the arl 7 rested beans are protruding from said shearplate openings.

23. A bean snipper comprising a narrow bean guiding channel wherein the beans are adapted to slide endwise, a shear plate disposed transversely across each end of said channel in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom wall thereof to arrestthe movement of beans sliding endwise along said channel in either direction, said shear plates having openings'therein of a size to protrude the tips of the arrested beans therethrough while retaining the beans, drive means for tilting said channel alternately in opposite directions from the horizontal',.,to inclined angle su'icient to cause the beans to slide by gravity endwise along said channel .to arrested position against a shear plate toprotrude their tips through the shear plate lopenings, a shear blade operatively supported from said channel exteriorly of each of said shear plates and shearingly movable across the openings of its correlated shear plate to seve'rvp'ro'- truding mean tips, land 'stationarily mounted blade actuating means disposed in the operational paths of travel of said shear blades for coaction therewith to impart shearing movement to each of said blades at predetermined stages in the tilting of said channel when thetips of the arrested Ybeansrprotr'ude through the openings of the shear plate associated with the blade being actuated.

24QA bean snipper comprising a narrow bean guiding channel portion of substantial lengthgand of lesser Width than the length of the bearis'to be guidedfor endwise sliding movement therein, a pair of sheerplates disposed'one adjacent each end of said channel portion in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom Wall thereof to arrest movement o f beans sliding endwise therealong, ,said shear plates having'openings therein of a size to allow the tips of beans arrested `by theV shear plates totprotrude therethrough While retainingthe beans, drive means for tilting said channel portion to'an inclined angle suicient to cause the beansto slidev by gravity one end rst along saidchannel to arrested' position against a shear plate to protrude their vtips on said one end through the shear plateopenings,r a shear blade Yoperatively supported from said channel portion exteriorly of 'each shear plate and shearinglymovable across the openings of itsv correlated shear plate to sever protru'ded bean tips, and stationarily mounted blade actuating means disposed inthe operational path of travel o f said shear blades for co-action therewith to impart shearing movement to said blades at predetermined stages in the tilting movement'o-ffsaid channel during which the tips of the arrested beans are protruding from the shear plateopenings, said drive means thereafter tilting said channel to cause the beans to slide other'end 'rst towardthel other of said shear plates and protrude the tips on ltheir other ends'through v'the openings in saidv othershear platef l 25. A bean snipper comprising a bean container, a plurality of narrow bean guiding channels vtherein along which the beans are adapted to .slide endwise, shear plates disposed transversely across both ends off ea'ch channel in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom wall thereof'to arrest theimolvement of beans slidingfend- ,relocating se ,beans drive meats for i111 18 ing said channels to an inclined angle sulicient to cause beans therein to slide by gravity one end rst therealong to arrested position against the downwardly tilted shear plate to protrude their tips on said one end through the shear plate lopenings thereof, meansr for tilting said channels to cause beans therein to slide other end rst along said channelsto protrude their tips on said other end through the openings of the other vdownwardly tilted shear plate, asnipping blade operatively mounted upon said container in snip- `ping contact with each shear plate, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the arcuate path of operational travel of said snipping blades for co-action therewith to actuate the same at predetermined points in the tilting of said container to,l snip off the tips of beans protruding through said plates.

26. A bean snipper comprising a support, a drum mounted lfor rotation about an inclined axis `on said support, the ends of said drum being open, charging means mounted to introduce beans into the upper end of said drum, guide ribs projecting into the drum and spaced apart by a'distance less than the length of the vbeans to be vsnipped for conveying the beans in endwise Vsliding arrangement along said drum to" and through the lowerend of said drum,ja row of perforated shear plates mounted to extend lengthwise of a wall of'said drum and disposed at a bean arresting angle across the path of the'endwise sliding beans, said shear plates being spaced apart a distance substantially greaterthan the length of beans to be snipped, to protrude the ytips of arrested beans through the perforations in said shear plates, a shear blade support rod mounted inV said drum for endwise slidable movement lengthwise over said row of `shear plates; means carried by said' drum support and'disposed in the operational path of travel of said blade support rod to co-act therewith for reciprocating the rod in recurrent strokes vin'timed relation to the rotation of said drum, a plurality of blade support brackets secured to said rod at spaced intervals, a blade mounted on each of said'brackets between the bracketV and a rshear plate and laterally adjacent Va shear plate opening, means for retaining the Aguide Ways, a plurality Aof tip receiving `means at the ends of said guide ways adapted to arrest beans sliding'along said guide Ways kand to receive the tips of beans therein, means for tilting said receptacle to'incline the guide ways toward the tip receiving means for controlled endwise sliding movement of beans alongsaid guide ways to project the tips on one'end of saidbeans into the tip receiving Ymeans, tip severing means mounted upon said receptacle and operatively associatedwith one of said tip receiving means to sever the tips of beans projected into said tip receiving means, means for reversing the direction of endwi'sesliding movement of said beansto direct the tips o n the other end thereof toward other of said tip receiving means,`other tip severing means mounted' upon said receptacle endoperatively associated with said other tip receiving means to sever the tips of beans projected thereinto, stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of travel of both of said tip severing means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting tip severing movement thereto at predetermined tilted positions of the guide ways, and means for discharging the beans from said receptacle.

28. A bean snipper comprising a narrow guide way, means for introducing beans into said guide way for guidance lengthwise thereof, tip receiving means mounted transversely of said guide way adapted to arrest beans sliding along said guide way and to receive the tips of beans therein while retaining the beans, means for tilting said guide way to incline it toward the tip receiving means for sliding the beans endwise along said guide way to project their tips into the tip receiving means, tip severing means supported from said guide way and operatively associated with said tip receiving means to sever the tips of beans projected into said tip receiving means, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational path of travel of said tip severing means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting tip severing movement thereto at a predetermined tilted position of the guide way.

29. A bean snipper comprising a receptacle having a plurality of narrow channeled guide ways, means for introducing beans into said receptacle for guidance lengthwise of said guide ways, tip snipping means operatively mounted upon said receptacle at each end of each of said guideways, each of said tip snipping means being adapted to arrest beans sliding along its correlating guide way and to receive and snip on the tips of beans received therein, means for tilting said receptacle to incline the guide ways toward their correlated tip snipping means at a common end for gravitational endwise sliding action of beans along said guide ways to direct the tips of beans into said tip snipping means, means for thereafter tilting said receptacle for reversed gravitational endwise sliding movement of said beans along said guide ways to direct the unsnipped tips thereof into the other of said tip snipping means at the other common end of said guide ways, stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of travel of said tip snipping means and adapted to co-aci; therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at predetermined points in each tilting cycle of said receptacle, and means for discharging the beans from said receptacle.

30. A bean shipper comprising a drum rotatable about an axis, a flat side on said drum substantially parallel to and oset from the drum axis, said flat side being of a width greater than the length oi the beans, guide means extending inwardly from said flat drum side to guide said beans for sliding movement endwise transversely across said flat side when the latter is tilted beyond a predetermined angle in the rotation of said drum, tip snipping means operatively carried by said drum and mounted thereon adjacent a longitudinal edge of said flat drum side, said tip snipping means being adapted to arrest beans sliding across said side and to receive and sever the tips on the leading ends of such beans, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational path of travel of said tip snipping means and to -co-act therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at a predetermined point in the rotative cycle of said drum when the beans are arrested by the tip snipping means.

31. A bean snipper comprising a drum rotatable about an axis, a bean supporting at plate disposed on said drum substantially parallel to and oiset from the drum axis, said hat plate being of a width greater than the length of the beans, guide means extending inwardly from said flat plate to guide said beans for endwise sliding movement thereacross when said flat plate is tilted beyond a predetermined angle in the rotation of said drum, tip snipping means operatively carried by said drum and mounted thereon to extend lengthwise of said flat plate, said tip snipping means being adapted to arrest said beans and to receive and sever the tips of said arrested beans, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational path of travel of said tip snipping means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at a predetermined point in the rotative cycle of said drum when said beans are arrested by said tip snipping means.

32. A bean snipper comprising a rotary drum, conveyor guide means extending inwardly from the wall of said drum in the nature of a helical thread aiTording a conveying groove and having a pitch less than the lengths of beans to be snipped therein, a plurality oi snipping members disposed lengthwise of said drum and at spaced intervals along said grooves in substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom of the threadlike grooves of said guide means whereby sliding endwise movement of the beans along said threadlike grooves upon rotation of said drum is arrested by each succeeding snipping member, said snipping members being adapted to receive the tip ends of said arrested beans, snipping means carried by said drum and operatively associated with said snipping members and adapted to sever the tips of beans inserted in said members, stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of travel of said tip snipping means and adapted to co-act therewith for imparting snipping movement thereto at predetermined stages in the cycle of rotation of said drum, said snipping members being adapted to retain the beans in arrested position until they are carried beyond a point in the rotation of the drum whereat they topple over in end for end reversed position for slidable movement along the succeeding thread-like groove portion toward the succeeding snipping member in the direction of sliding movement of said beans.

33. In a bean snipper, a helical inwardly open chute comprising successive chute portions angularly offset from each other by an angle sufficient to arrest beans sliding along one of said chute portions toward a next successive chute portion, means for mounting said chute for rotation about its helical axis, the chute portions being of less width and longer than the beans to be snipped, thereby to guide the beans lengthwise therein, snipping means operatively carried by each chute portion and disposed adjacent an angle between successive chute portions to arrest and sever the tips of beans sliding endwise into said angle, and to retain the beans in arrested position until their axes are tilted beyond the vertical by the rotative movement of the chute, thereby to reverse the beans end for end for sliding movement along the next successive portion of the chute when the chute is rotated to position said next successive chute portion at an angle from the horizontal beyond the limiting angle of friction of the beans therein, and stationarily mounted means disposed in the operational paths of travel References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Horst Feb. 25, 1913 Wegner Oct. 5, 1915 10 Urschel Feb. 12, 1918 Urschel Apr. 13, 1920 Number 22 Name Date Vandrevil Aug. 31, 1920 Taylor Aug. 5, 1924 Urschel June 24, 1930 MacDougall May 31, 1932 Ryder Feb. 15, 1938 Urschel Apr. 19, 1938 Hall Jan. 17, 1939 Urschel et al. Jan. 9, 1940 Kerr May 15, 1945 Finley Jan. 22, 1946 Kelly Feb. 6, 1951 

